Grand Cayman’s Coral Gardens (also known as the Aquarium) boast extraordinary coral formations teeming with vibrant marine life. One of the island’s most spectacular natural features, they’re a renowned tourist destination. Snorkel at the Gardens, and you’ll discover a whole new world under the waves.
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A Fantastic Undersea Adventure Awaits!
While we can’t promise you a rose garden, we can guarantee an unforgettable experience at our coral garden! At Captain Marvin’s, we’d love to show you an incredible underwater wonderland unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
At Coral Gardens Grand Cayman, you’ll make special memories as you drift past spellbinding coral landscapes and vibrant schools of tropical fish.
We also offer stingray, starfish and bioluminescence experiences helmed by our knowledgeable crew. Your next great adventure awaits! Connect with us now to book your excursion and make memories that will last a lifetime!
What Exactly Are Corals?
Did you know that corals are actually animals? They’re related to jellyfish and sea anemones, but they have a solid external skeleton. Corals build this shell by siphoning calcium carbonate from the water. Together, these organisms can connect to form an entire reef, and a coral reef can be packed with more than 1,000 animals per square foot!
The Fascinating Corals Of Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands waters are home to 44 species of hard corals. They also host soft corals that look like trees, grasses, tubes and fans. The Coral Gardens are nestled inside Grand Cayman’s North Sound (a protected area of ocean framed by the Grand Cayman Island Barrier Reef). At only 10 feet deep, the Gardens are perfect for all levels of scuba divers. There is a huge population of coral heads cascading with a dazzling variety of fish. You may glimpse:
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Four-eye butterflyfish
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Atlantic blue tang
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Queen triggerfish
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Sergeant major
These marine residents are fascinating to observe, whether they swim during high tide or low tide. Some divers and snorkelers believe that the best time to see the Gardens in all their glory is about an hour before sunset.
The only way to reach the Aquarium is by boat. Wind may ruffle the sea at times, but you’ll be safe if you wear a life jacket. Although it isn’t usually a problem, divers should be aware of boat traffic, particularly on weekends.
Coral Gardens Barrier Reef is sometimes confused with the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is an enormous reef formation off the northeastern shore of Australia. On the other hand, the Barrier Reef borders the north, south and east ends of Grand Cayman Island. Some excursion companies offer outings that stop at the Gardens, as well as the Barrier Reef.
Why Are The Coral Gardens Important?
In addition to being spectacularly beautiful, the Gardens play several important roles at Grand Cayman Island. These include:
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Providing a vital habitat for an exceptionally diverse array of marine life.
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Contributing to a thriving local tourist industry through snorkeling and reef diving trips.
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Acting as a natural barrier that protects the coast from erosion and storms.
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Helping scientists study marine ecosystems.
What To Do And Not Do When Visiting The Gardens
It’s important to protect and preserve the coral reef by following these guidelines:
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Don’t touch the coral. It’s human nature to want to connect with animals in a more personal way, but even a light touch can damage the delicate structures.
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Stay a safe distance from fish and other marine animals when you swim. If you get too close, you may frighten them and disrupt their normal behavior.
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Don’t feed the fish. They may become dependent on human food and lose the ability to forage for their own.
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Use reef safe sunscreen. This is sunscreen that is free of chemicals such as oxybenzone, PABA and octinoxate that can deform or kill coral. Toxic sunscreen can also kill living things that populate the beach when tide carrying the chemicals washes ashore.
Get Up Close And Personal With A Stingray
Along with the Gardens, North Sound features world-renowned Stingray City, where you can feed and frolic with gentle Southern Atlantic stingrays. Cayman Islands most popular tourist attraction, it’s comprised of two different locations:
Stingray City Sandbar
This sandbar is only 3 to 5 feet deep, depending on the tide. Adults and kids can easily stand here, and you don’t need to be a scuba diver or experienced snorkeler to mingle with the stingrays. You can have fun hand-feeding yummy squid to frisky stingrays who clamor for food like eager puppies.
Deep Stingray City
Deep Stingray City, considered one of the best shallow dive sites in the world, is about a mile from Stingray City Sandbar. The water is about 15 feet deep, so it’s only accessible to experienced scuba divers. Although there are fewer stingrays than Stingray City Sandbar, divers here can also hand-feed squid to these kite-shaped creatures. It’s also perfect for any underwater photographer seeking jaw-dropping shots of stingrays drifting by.
Because Stingray City and the Coral Gardens are very close to each other, many excursion companies offer Stingray City Coral Gardens tours that include a stop at both locations.
Do The Stingrays Sting?
The stingrays at Stingray Sandbar and Deep Stingray City are friendly and love human interaction. You’ll only risk getting stung if you:
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Touch their eyes or gills (and, of course, their stinger)
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Chase them instead of letting them swim to you
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Startle them
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Pull their wings
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Lift their gills out of the water
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Step on them
Pro Tip: Because stingrays sleep under the sand, people may unintentionally step on them. To prevent this, walk with a shuffle, so they’ll sense the motion and swim away.
Experience The Magic Of Starfish Point (Starfish Beach)
Like Stingray City, Starfish Point is located on Grand Cayman’s North Sound. Small and secluded, it’s known for its profusion of exotic red cushion sea stars. If you’re wondering why they’re called sea stars rather than starfish, it’s because they’re not fish. Instead, they’re close relatives of sea urchins and sand dollars.
Starfish Point boasts shallow, transparent waters that provide amazing views of these unusual creatures near the beach. In ankle-deep water, visitors can enjoy them without snorkeling gear or any particular swimming abilities.
You may be tempted to hold them or take a selfie with them, but if seas stars aren’t in water, they can’t breathe and will die within minutes. If you remove a starfish from its home, the stiff $2,000 fine could ruin your vacation.
What should you do, however, if you find a sea star that’s been washed ashore on the beach? Since it can’t survive on the beach, gently place it back in the water as soon as possible. Sea stars can live up to 35 years, so you can help them reach that lifespan!
The best time to see sea stars is early morning or late afternoon. The creatures stay closer to the shore when it’s cooler and less people are around. Sea stars are also easier to see during low tide, when the water is the most shallow.
Fun Fact: Sea stars can regrow lost arms, and sometimes the lost arm can grow into a new starfish – that’s a superstar-fish!
Treat Yourself To The Magnificent Coral Gardens
A Cayman Islands Coral Gardens outing is a fun, scenic voyage that takes you to the Gardens’ snorkeling and diving spots. These tours are typically are aboard:
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Snorkel boats – These boats are specially designed for snorkeling trips.
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Catamarans – Hop on a catamaran for a luxurious snorkeling experience.
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Small motor boats – These motorboats are perfect for small groups of people.
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Private boats – A private charter is a boat you can rent strictly for you and your guests as you seek ideal snorkel spots.
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Glass bottom boats – These boats have glass panels built into the bottom, so passengers can experience the Coral Gardens without getting wet. A glass bottom excursion is ideal for families with kids.
Types Of Tours
Depending on the operator and package, there is a wide selection of tours to choose from with stops at the Aquarium. These include:
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Two-stop tours – These tours are shorter and typically focus on Stingray City Coral Gardens.
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Three-stop tours – Many operators offer a Stingray City tour that include the Gardens and Starfish Point.
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Four-stop tours – Some excursion companies offer four stops that may include the Coral Gardens, Starfish Point, a Mangrove Forest and a Stingray City tour. Other tours stop at North Sound’s Water Cay for relaxing on shore atop the soft, sandy beach after snorkeling at the Gardens.
Cruise To The Coral Gardens
Major cruise lines also provide exciting experiences for passengers who want to explore the Cayman Islands marine world and snorkel spots. These include:
Carnival Cruise
The Carnival Cruise Line offers their “Coral Gardens and Stingray City Snorkel.” Visitors of all skill levels are welcome, including newbie snorkelers and children.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has a “Coral Gardens and Stingray City Sandbar Snorkel.” Tours to these snorkel spots depart from Grand Cayman’s George Town port terminal.
Caribbean Princess
This cruise line’s excursion typically pairs a Coral Gardens outing with a Starfish Point and Stingray City tour. You’ll need to take a boat from the George Town cruise ship terminal to reach the Gardens.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers an outing to Stingray City Sandbar and the Coral Gardens. Celebrity Cruises docks at the George Town cruise ship terminal.
There are key points to keep in mind when getting to or from Coral Gardens on a cruise ship. These include:
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George Town Port is the island’s biggest port. You’ll need to take a small boat (tender) that transports guests from the cruise ship to the shore. This is because the harbor isn’t deep enough to handle the huge vessels, and they must anchor in the bay. Although adults aren’t required to wear a life jacket, it’s recommended that children do.
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Book an excursion in advance that will carry you from the port to your destination. You can either do this through the cruise line or an independent tour operator.
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Make sure you return to your cruise ship on time. The ships have firm departure schedules, so don’t risk being left behind.
Get Ready For The Experience Of A Lifetime
You don’t need to have a green thumb to embark on Captain Marvin’s Coral Gardens Tour. Backed by decades of experience, our expert guides will whisk you away to an underwater paradise filled with otherworldly coral landscapes and breathtaking schools of tropical fish.
Want to keep the excitement going? We also offer Stingray City, Starfish Point, bioluminescence and Barrier Reef trips via group or private tours. Ready to explore the magic of Coral Gardens? Book your tour now and discover the wonders that await beneath the waves!
